BRIGHTON — Just like that, the Boston Bruins had another major absence at training camp, this time at center.
Elias Lindholm wasn’t on the ice for the second half of Friday’s practice with “Group A”, as wingers Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak had to go without their new middleman for the first time in camp. Head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters after practice that Lindholm had a maintenance day and will “be back shortly,” as the team is “being extra cautious” with him.
The more intriguing development is who practiced in Lindholm’s place, as 20-year-old forward Matthew Poitras worked at center between Zacha and Pastrnak. It looks like Montgomery would prefer that move over sliding Zacha back to center once again, for one day, anyway. Poitras played right wing next to Trent Frederic during Thursday’s practice, the first session open to the media during camp. It’s a good sign for him to be the next man up in Lindholm’s absence, as the Bruins are making a real effort to find a spot for him in the NHL lineup.
MORE: Bruins reveal plans for the still-unsigned Jeremy Swayman
For Poitras, it’s about being undeniable.
“I want to be here,” Poitras said Thursday. “I want to be able to show that I belong here and that they don’t have a choice, they’ve got to keep me here.”
With Lindholm in the lineup, the Bruins’ new-look top line looks good. All three are dynamic passers that can also finish, and Pastrnak is of course one of the very best finishers in the league. Lindholm also brings a strong two-way element that the B’s sorely missed at center in their first season without Patrice Bergeron in over 20 years.
As Poitras centered the line, it didn’t look quite as crisp, especially in terms of their puck management in the offensive zone. Poitras certainly has skill and instincts, but the line was a step back from the 200-foot machine that they looked like with Lindholm.
Providence has felt like a possibility for Poitras, after he was ineligible to be sent down during his rookie season. But his recent promotion to the top line on Lindholm’s maintenance day indicates that he’s making a serious push to stay in the NHL, with or without Lindholm. He’s projected for a middle-six spot, despite filling in for Lindholm on the top line on Friday. Realistically, he’s one of their 12 best forwards.
More thoughts from over the first two days of Bruins training camp in Friday’s notebook…
Third defensive pair coming together
After two Bruins training camp practices, the Bruins’ projected third defensive pairing is Mason Lohrei on the left and Andrew Peeke on the right. This duo has plenty of size and, especially in the case of Lohrei, more than enough skill for a third pair.
The Lohrei-Peeke tandem has looked especially impressive in their own end. They’re hard to push around in the corners and behind the net, and when they gain control of the puck, they’ve made strong first passes to get out of the zone. Peeke has flashed puck-moving ability in his career, and looks well-positioned to do it at a high level in his first season in Boston.
Some may be expecting Lohrei to be a top-4 option on the blue line for the Bruins. If he’s on the third pair, he’ll still have an opportunity to make an impact on special teams, particularly manning the power play. Configuring this defense is the Bruins’ best problem.
Harrison trending up
Sep 24, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins center Brett Harrison (72) waits for play to begin during the third period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
With Poitras elevating to the top line in the absence of Elias Lindholm, someone had to slide into his place at right wing next to Trent Frederic. On Friday, that was 21-year-old Brett Harrison, whose skill has popped off the ice at times in camp. He made especially one impressive deke between his legs before beating goaltender Nolan Maier at the doorstep.
Originally drafted in the third round (85th overall) in 2021, Harrison has always lurked in the Bruins’ system and feels closer than ever to the NHL. He played 47 games for Providence last season, scoring five goals and 14 points, after playing most of the previous four years in the OHL. He told reporters he feels more “comfortable” and “confident” on the ice, crediting part of the improvement to an off-season bulk-up that better fills out his slight 6-foot-2 frame.
“I came in here like, 191 [pounds] now, so, definitely up a few pounds from last year,” Harrison said. “I think it put a lot of work into my skating. I feel a lot faster in my first three steps, feel a lot faster coming out of the D zone and in and out of [puck] battles.”
Brazeau stands out
Justin Brazeau (Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Justin Brazeau had a boom-or-bust season with the Bruins in 2023-24, after signing as a free agent mid-season. Two days into training camp, he’s a guy that’s not going to go away quietly. Brazeau’s outstanding size at right wing (6-foot-5, 225) is an obvious asset, but what impressed on Friday was his smooth skating and puck protection when in possession.
Lining up with LW Max Jones and C Morgan Geekie so far in Bruins training camp, Brazeau is firmly in the mix for a bottom-6 role. He showed out well to close out the week.
Leftover Bruins training camp notes…
(Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
— Joonas Korpisalo and Brandon Bussi are still the clear top-2 goalies in the absence of Jeremy Swayman, but I’ve been impressed with Michael DiPietro in net. He’s technically sound with little wasted movement in the crease. His relative lack of size (6 feet, 200 pounds) may limit him at the NHL level, but he had a solid first two days of camp.
— Trevor Kuntar, in a word: tenacious. The 23-year-old forward prospect plays a loud game, forechecking and crashing the net hard at all times. On one shift during team drills, he took several aggressive whacks at the puck between the pads of goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo. Later in the shift, it took two defensemen to knock him off the puck behind the net. Kuntar remains a likely minor leaguer to begin the 2024-25 season, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he earns his first NHL time at some point, especially if there are injuries in the bottom-six.
— Veteran defenseman Jordan Oesterle had a good Friday. He made plays both with and without the puck. On one rush, he made a nice little deke around Johnny Beecher to carry the puck down low. He assisted on a goal by Brazeau with a heads-up cross-ice feed. In his own end, he broke up one pass attempt by Riley Duran near the net. Oesterle has a lot of NHL experience (371 games), so he could be making a real push for a reserve defense role, where Parker Wotherspoon and Ian Mitchell lead the way on the left and right sides, respectively.
— Georgii Merkulov continues to rep as a bottom-six center with his respective group, and it feels like he’s trending toward starting the season in Providence. Merkulov is a smooth skater with skill and a knack for finding open ice. He and the team appear settled on him as a center. If that doesn’t change, then Merkulov will find himself in a logjam to crack the NHL lineup. Don’t be surprised if they keep him at center in the minors and continue to develop him there.
— Team stretch leaders…Brandon Carlo led for Group B, while David Pastrnak led for Group A.
